Do it in your freezer. I did a couple times. The hot water froze first. This has been repeated so much there is a scientific name for it.
I've unfortunately proven the phenomenon a few times. Don't ask me how I found out. If you read the article, you'll see that it doesn't happen in every circumstance, but many times it does.
I have no idea where that hot water freezes faster than cold water came from. Water has to go below 0*C (32*F) to freeze. If water is at 5*C it will freeze faster than water at 40*C . It has to loose less energy to freeze. There's no way everything else being equal that will happen. Personally I think he is wetting down the wood because he heard/saw thats what lumber mills do to try to keep a more even dey rate.
I have no idea where that hot water freezes faster than cold water came from. Water has to go below 0*C (32*F) to freeze. If water is at 5*C it will freeze faster than water at 40*C . It has to loose less energy to freeze. There's no way everything else being equal that will happen. Personally I think he is wetting down the wood because he heard/saw thats what lumber mills do to try to keep a more even dey rate.
Look up the Mpemba effect. You'll see that hot water can indeed freeze faster than cold water. I know, it's totally counter intuitive.
The phenomenon has been observed as far back as Aristotle. why does hot water why does hot water freeze faster than cold water faster than cold water - Google Search
Mentioned at the end of this article: The trouble with buying SEASONED firewood - Chimney Keepers And again at the end of this one: Drying Firewood - How to Season Firewood
I can see in certain environments, like Arizona where cool wet water sprayed on wood followed by hot dry sun rapidly speeding up the aging process. Including checking from rapid expansion and contraction. Increased checking will help the wood dry faster. At least the outer edges. Wether that relates to the same amount of dryness all the way through the split may be a different story. In Your average New England humid summer your just as likely to start growing mushrooms which is very common. on a similar note I found this laid over stump early this spring in the shaded woods. Part of the visual attraction was the smoothness in which it had been decaying. The roots anyway looked like driftwood. Brought it home and set it in the sunniest part of my yard to dry out, stop the decay. It’s not so pretty anymore. Had been hoping the sun would begin to bleach it grey. What happened more was it got rough and checked.
My dad observed this phenomenon...living in Ohio. Just sayin. If this is indeed the case Im sure it’s only under certain conditions. If the wood remains constantly wet it just becomes waterlogged. If the surface gets wet and immediately dries then...possibly different story. Anyhow, I don’t cover my stacks. I leave them out in the open to the weather for a few years and then move them into the woodshed around September/Oct. So I notice this. I would have to do an experiment to see and right now I just lack the motivation for such an endeavor which would require an investment of time and energy that I just don’t have at the moment.
I find it funny that a roofer is saying this. I mean, we all know that roofs keep houses dry. Many houses are made of wood. Dry wood is good wood.
Yeah, or when the wood dries out, the rate at which water moves through it and evaporates, slows down. Not saying I subscribe to the theory, but it does seem like it could make sense.. Harry Mudd, to Jim Kirk; "You sing and dance as well as anyone, Captain, but what in the hell are you talking about?"
I've never heard of getting something wet in order to get it dry. With that said I don't pretend to know everything.
